The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has added a rare 1936 Tatra 75 Convertible to its exhibition, offering visitors a glimpse into the innovative engineering of prewar European automobiles. Part of the renowned Ron Sturgeon Collection, this vehicle underscores Tatra's role as a forward-thinking manufacturer during the 1930s.
With only approximately 4,100 examples ever produced, the 1936 Tatra 75 Convertible is exceptionally uncommon. Before joining the Ron Sturgeon Collection, it was preserved at the Tampa Bay Automotive Museum, where its historical significance and originality were carefully maintained. The car's advanced air-cooled 1.7-liter flat-four engine, paired with a four-speed manual transmission, exemplifies Tatra's commitment to engineering solutions that were decades ahead of competitors. Its innovative backbone chassis provided exceptional rigidity and a smooth ride, making the Type 75 a standout among luxury touring automobiles of its era.
The interior features a beautifully preserved right-hand-drive layout trimmed in rich red leather, with a body-color dashboard that reflects European automotive elegance. A classic VDO 120 km/h speedometer with an integrated clock dominates the instrument panel, while the odometer reads just 44,000 kilometers (approximately 27,000 miles), indicating limited use throughout its lifetime. Finished with a sophisticated beige convertible top, the Tatra 75 is one of the finest surviving examples of this historically significant model.
According to Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, "The Tatra 75 represents a level of creativity and innovation that continues to impress nearly 90 years later. It's automobiles like this that allow visitors to appreciate how engineering vision and craftsmanship have shaped the cars we drive today." This vehicle also holds a special place in history as the last front-engined passenger car introduced by Tatra before the company shifted toward its famous rear-engined designs, which later influenced generations of automotive engineering.
The DFW Car & Toy Museum, located at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, offers free admission and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Visitors can explore over 200 iconic automobiles and 3,000 vintage toys spanning more than a century of innovation. The museum also provides secure climate-controlled car storage and facilities for events. For more information, visit the museum's website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
